A TV format is the overall concept and branding of a copyrighted
television show. The most common type of formats are those in the
television genres of
game shows and
reality show
Reality television is a genre of television programming that documents purportedly unscripted real-life situations, often starring unfamiliar people rather than professional actors. Reality television emerged as a distinct genre in the early 19 ...
s, many of which are remade in multiple markets with local contestants. Recent examples include ''
Survivor
Survivor(s) may refer to:
Actual survivors
*
*Last survivors of historical events
Arts, entertainment, and media Fictional entities
* Survivors, characters in the 1997 ''KKnD'' video-game series
* ''The Survivors'', or the ''New Survivors Found ...
'', ''
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?'', ''
Pop Idol'' and ''
Big Brother
Big Brother may refer to:
* Big Brother (''Nineteen Eighty-Four''), a character from George Orwell's novel ''Nineteen Eighty-Four''
** Authoritarian personality, any omnipresent figure representing oppressive control
** Big Brother Awards, a sat ...
'' that have all proved successful worldwide. Such types of formats are also known as
franchises, since rights to the format are usually handled with licenses.
Particular models in the genre of
sitcoms
A sitcom, a portmanteau of situation comedy, or situational comedy, is a genre of comedy centered on a fixed set of characters who mostly carry over from episode to episode. Sitcoms can be contrasted with sketch comedy, where a troupe may use new ...
are often sold as formats, enabling broadcasters to adapt them to the perceived tastes of their own audience. An example is ''
The Office'', a
BBC sitcom which got adapted as
''The Office'' US,
Kontoret in Sweden, ''
Le Bureau'' in France, ''
Stromberg'' in Germany, ''
La Job'' in Quebec and ''
La Ofis'' in Chile.
A format is licensed by
TV networks, so that they may produce a version of the show tailored to their nationality and audience. Formats are a major part of the international
television market. Format purchasing is popular with broadcasters, due principally to the lower risk associated with an already-proven idea and the preference of audiences to watch programming tailored to their locality.
Leading companies that handle the creation and sales of programming formats include
Warner Bros. International Television Production
Warner Bros. International Television Production (WBITVP) is the global television production arm of Warner Bros. Television Group.
The division was formed in 2009 to produce original programming or local adaptations of Warner Bros. formats in no ...
,
ITV Studios,
Talpa,
Endemol Shine
Endemol Shine Group B.V. (stylized in all spaceless) was a Dutch production and distribution company of scripted and non-scripted content, responsible for programmes such as '' Big Brother'', ''Deal or No Deal'', '' The Money Drop'', '' Fear Fa ...
and
Fremantle
Fremantle () () is a port city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River in the metropolitan area of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth. The Western Australian vernacular diminutive for ...
.
Legal issues
TV formats are viewed as a form of
intellectual property (IP), and are regularly bought and sold by
TV producers,
distribution company and broadcasters. For example, ''
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?'' has been recreated in 108 territories, while local versions of ''Idol'' have aired (over 129 series) in 42 territories receiving about three
billion votes, most notable being ''
American Idol''.
However, TV formats are not generally protected under
copyright law.
[Legal Protection](_blank)
Bournemouth University.[McInerney, Peter](_blank)
and Rose, David ''Television formats and copyright protection'' in '' The Times'', 2 March 1999, p.41 (Law page). As a result, copycat formats are sometimes created, which seek to duplicate the success of an original format without paying the person who came up with it. Format developers seek to prevent this by various means, including the use of trademarks or withholding distribution of other shows.
Establishing "Proof of Review" and exposure to companies reviewing new TV formats is one important aspect of protection by the industry at the Television Writers Vault. The
Format Recognition and Protection Association The Format Recognition and Protection Association (FRAPA) is a trade association that seeks to create and enforce legal protection for television formats as intellectual property, and to mediation, mediate industry disputes.
FRAPA co-sponsors the C ...
(FRAPA) aims to protect rights to formats and lobbies for legal protection.
See also
*
List of American television series based on British television series
*
List of British television series based on American television series
*
Radio format
References
External links
Bournemouth University: TV Formats
{{Appropriation in the Arts
Format